April 25, 2017

Evolution of brand

Whether we like it or not, we all have relationships with brands. Regardless of if we feel grateful for their partnership or resentful of their persuasion, there’s no escaping their intimate involvement in our daily lives. But these relationships are changing. Fast. From milkmen to delivery drones and Corn Flakes to the Kardashians, emerging technologies continue breaking the rules.

At “Like Me: Our bond with brands” exhibition, which debuted in London as part of the London Design Festival and was recreated in New York at the iconic One World Trade Center, the unique dynamics between people and brands over time were on display, from the ashes of Pompeii to the familiar pop culture of today. With the rise of new technologies like AI and VR, our relationships with brands and the role they play in our lives are changing. Today, tomorrow and beyond — how has, and will, branding evolve?

To pay homage to the host city, these iconic brands took the form of topiaries for the exhibition’s debut in London. They were reimagined as marquee lights for the New York installation, as shown above.

Natural Selection

The concept of branding dates back to the beginning of time, before humans even walked the earth. From the monarch butterfly’s spotted wings to the Bengal tiger’s stripes, branding is nature’s way of organizing the complex world, using simple visuals to communicate a distinct and consistent message. We took the keys from nature very early on: Bread was branded — literally — as early as A.D. 79 to differentiate between other varieties and bakeries. Napoleon wore his hat sideways to mark his identity, and two centuries later this symbol of individualism is still remembered.

When Lippincott first began building brands in 1943, brands were mostly visual. To this day, the visual components of the most iconic brands spur instant recognition— think of the Starbucks cup or the timeless curve of Coca-Cola. But branding began to evolve, incorporating all five senses to become much more immersive. NBC’s xylophone chimes were registered as the world’s first audio service mark and are still in use today. Chanel’s signature fragrance has withstood the test of time. By tapping into our senses, brands can leave an indelible impression.

Brands don’t just live in logos and letterforms. The most iconic brands are instantly recognizable — not just by its logo but also its shape, look and feel. The Starbucks Siren has always been a figure of familiarity, but the Starbucks cup still speaks volumes, even when she’s absent.

Some of today’s most iconic brands are leaning less on the visuals and more on the visceral. It’s easier to recall Cinnabon’s smell than its tagline. Only three chimes play when you think of NBC. Great design isn’t just graphic — it’s experiential — and great brands live in our senses, sometimes without us even noticing.

Forces of Nurture

In the 1980s, brand became less about centralized, top-down trademarks and more about building communities and movements to which people wanted to belong. Nike’s “Just Do It” campaign elevated its brand above all products — a pioneering strategy to sell more than just a pair of shoes, offering the promise of community and achieving something greater.

Today consumers are empowered to connect, share and personalize like never before. We can build brands up, and sometimes tear them down. Beyond simply driving purchases, successful brands welcome open conversation and evolve continuously to reflect the needs of an ever-changing society. They’re shaped by their environment. Adaptive, perceptive and almost alive. Almost.

Brands inspire belief: from defining what we truly value, to giving us something to identify with and advocate for. Pictured above are two seemingly identical Louis Vuitton bags: one is real, the other a fake. Both bags are loved by their owners, but for different reasons.

How much would you pay for George Clooney’s sweater? What if you could never tell anyone where it came from? What if it was washed before it got to you? In a study by Paul Bloom, professor of psychology and cognitive science at Yale University, participants agreed they would pay significantly above the retail price for Clooney’s sweater, less if they couldn’t disclose its origins, and hugely less if washed. A good story increases value, while enforced modesty drags it down. As for Clooney’s perspiration? Priceless.

We take over a million selfies a day. It’s simultaneously social and independent, a simple way to capture a moment with you in it. Are we getting lost in our own reflection, or just finding new ways to frame our personal brand?

The Grumpy Cat brand makes $50 million a year. Pet-turned-meme is officially a way to become a celebrity. Grumpy Cat made her debut on Reddit, and she now has 8.7 million fans. Her frown makes us smile — and, yes, we’re paying for that.

“If you don’t like me, but watch everything I do, bitch you’re a fan.” When Madonna posted this message, it spawned hundreds of articles, thousands of retweets and more than 100,000 likes. In the world of social media, everyone is their own brand — amassing followers and haters alike.

“Branded,” designed by artist Michael Murphy, embodies the dynamic relationship between people and brands, asking us to consider the role they play in shaping our identities.

Human Being, Meet Brand Being

Accelerating change is upon us. Brands once served solely as a differentiator or abstract marker of quality, but today’s customers are more than willing to embrace unfamiliar brands if they come with a five-star review on Amazon. For the customer of the future, every purchasing decision will be driven by crowdsourced ratings and synthesized data thanks to the rise in AI and social technologies. The brands she identifies with are not the ones that provide particular products, but rather the ones that make her life easier, personalize her experiences, and uphold beliefs and values that she deeply aligns with.

Tomorrow’s most successful brands will be chosen by the rapidly evolving customer of the future, whose expectations and choices will look much different from the customers of 50 years ago or even today. But the brands that thrive are always the ones that connect and solidify emotional connections with their customers — and that holds true time and time again.

Five movie scenes offered a perspective on the future — where assisted intelligence, immersive reality, automation, big data and complete customization will dramatically reshape the world and how we relate to it. The result? While 81% of people are excited by an automated life, 73% are scared to trust machines.